Moore: Go ahead, Eli, pick on penalty-prone Cowboy Jenkins

IRVING - At some point Monday evening, probably on New York's
first possession, Hakeem Nicks or Mario Manningham will casually
stroll past an official to offer this helpful piece of advice:

Keep an eye on No. 21 for the Cowboys. The guy likes to hold
receivers.

Then, Eli Manning will drop back and throw right at him.

Mike Jenkins knows what's in store. His uncle, Tracy Sanders,
played in the same secondary as Deion Sanders at Florida State. The
two talked about how the Cowboys cornerback must be ready.

"He said you know they're going to try you," Jenkins said. "And
he said a real player invites that. That's where you show everybody
you're a better man than what they think you are."

So come on, Manning. Test Jenkins. That's what he wants. It's
the only way he can move on from the last two games.

Jenkins isn't the reason the Cowboys lost to Tennessee and
Minnesota. But his four pass interference penalties have cost the
team seven points and 82 yards. His interference penalty on
third-and-6 in the final moments of Sunday's game - on a pass that
would have required an extension ladder to reach - gave the Vikings
a first down and allowed them to hold onto the ball long enough to
ice the victory.

When the Giants need to convert on third down Monday, where do
you think Manning will look?

"Sometimes, when you get one or two, you're a targeted guy,"
secondary coach Dave Campo said. "You have to play your way out of
it. That's the only way you can do it."

The cornerback's recent struggles are as bewildering as the
team's 1-4 record. Jenkins doesn't have a reputation for this sort
of thing. He was hit with only one pass interference call all of
last season, when he blossomed into a Pro Bowl player.

But as Campo said Thursday, this is "a man-eating league."
Jenkins, who also allowed Tennessee's Kenny Britt to get behind him
for a 52-yard catch that set up a field goal, can't let the last
two games consume him.

The Cowboys worked on technique with Jenkins in Thursday's
practice. They will do the same today and Saturday.

Former Cowboys safety Darren Woodson said earlier this week he
likes the way Jenkins plays because he's, "aggressive as hell." The
Cowboys don't want to douse that fire. They just don't want him to
hand-fight a receiver even if the receiver initiates the
action.

"You just can't grab the guy," Campo said. "It's very simple. No
matter what the guy does to you, you can't grab him. If that shirt
moves, they're calling it."

Jenkins peppered the officials who worked Thursday's practice
with questions. He wants to understand just what is off limits in a
game. He swore he would get through the entire week of practice
without grabbing a receiver.

Part of the problem may be that Jenkins has played off his man
at times more than he did last season. He's most comfortable when
he's at the line of scrimmage.

That's where he will be Monday night. That's where he will be
for the rest of the season. He won't back down.

"If they think I was physical, I'm really going to get physical
now," Jenkins said. "I'm still going to get up in their face."

Head coach Wade Phillips believes that Jenkins can be too
competitive at times. Phillips pointed out that only one of his
four interference penalties came when he was beaten. On the, others
he was right there.

Jenkins has the mind-set you want in a cornerback. He doesn't
want to let any receiver beat him. But you can only carry that so
far. If you give up five or six yards on a slant or an underneath
pass that doesn't result in a first down, sometimes it makes more
sense to do that than to force the issue.

"It hit me," Jenkins said. "I realized the other day I'm going
to give up certain balls but not give up the big play."

Campo told Jenkins all it takes is one game without a pass
interference call for his life to return to normal. He's pumped
because he's had two interceptions against Manning and returned one
for a touchdown.

"It's going to be a good week because I always get Eli," Jenkins
said.

Unless Manning - and the officials - get him first.

"I figure at some point everybody has their day," Jenkins said.
"Now I'm in a difficult part, but I'm not going to let it hold me
down. I don't want to get mentally messed up and stop playing my
game.

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